Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yocupertino’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Yocupertino’, characterized by its uniform and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; strong and freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored foliage; uniform flowering response and habit; can be grown as a spray-type or without bud removal; early flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets; golden bronze-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity with plants maintaining good substance and color for about three weeks in an interior environment.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Yocupertino’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Yocupertino’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Alva, Fla. Theobjective of the program is to create or discover new pottedChrysanthemum cultivars that are suitable for year-round production withuniform plant growth habit, good vigor and strong branching habit,numerous inflorescences, desirable inflorescence form and floret colors,fast and uniform flowering response, and good postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made in May,1998 in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number YB-4685, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofChrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number YB-4908, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlledenvironment in Alva, Fla. in March, 1999. The selection of this plantwas based on its uniform plant growth habit, good vigor and strongbranching habit, desirable inflorescence form and floret colors, fastand uniform flowering response, and good postproduction longevity.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by vegetative tip cuttingswas first conducted in Alva, Fla. in June, 1999. Asexual reproduction bycuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemumare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Yocupertino has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and/or lightlevel, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Yocupertino’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Yocupertino’, as a new and distinctChrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Uniform and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Strong and freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored foliage.    -   4. Uniform flowering response and habit.    -   5. Can be grown as a spray-type or without bud removal.    -   6. Early flowering, eight week response time.    -   7. Large daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped        ray florets.    -   8. Golden bronze-colored ray florets.    -   9. Good postproduction longevity with plants maintaining good        substance and color for about three weeks in an interior        environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants ofthe female parent selection primarily in ray floret color as plants ofthe female parent selection have yellow-colored ray florets. Inaddition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more vigorous than plantsof the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants ofthe male parent selection primarily in ray floret color as plants of themale parent selection have dark orange bronze-colored ray florets. Inaddition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about one week earlierthan plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of thecultivar Yoauburn, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,526. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the newChrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Yoauburn in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more vigorous than        plants of the cultivar Yoauburn.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Yoauburn        differed in ray floret color as plants of the cultivar Yoauburn        had orange bronze-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newChrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Yocupertino’ grown as spray-types.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Yocupertino’ grown as spray-types.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs, following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown and flowered during the spring in Salinas, Calif., in afiberglass-covered greenhouse and under conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial potted Chrysanthemum production.During the production of these plants, the following conditions weremeasured: day temperatures, 21° C. to 27° C.; night temperatures, 17° C.to 19° C.; and light levels, 5,000 to 6,000 foot-candles. Four unrootedcuttings were directly stuck in 15-cm containers, exposed to longday/short night conditions, and pinched once about two weeks later. Atthe time of the pinch, the photoinductive short day/long nighttreatments were initiated. Plants used for the description were grown asspray-types. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical flowering plants.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar    Yocupertino.-   Commercial classification: Daisy-type potted Chrysanthemum.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number YB-4685,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number YB-4098,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About ten days at 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white, close to 155D, in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy-type potted Chrysanthemum that            can be grown as a spray-type or without bud removal. Upright            with lateral branches somewhat outwardly spreading;            uniformly mounded crown. Strong and freely branching growth            habit; about five lateral branches develop after removal of            terminal apex (pinching); dense and full plants.        -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 35 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 22.5 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 2.8 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A to 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 8.2 cm. Width: About 5.6 cm. Apex: Cuspidate to            mucronate. Base: Truncate to attenuate. Margin: Palmately            lobed, sinuses between lateral lobes parallel to divergent.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color:            Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Darker            green than 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage,            lower surface: Close to 147A. Venation, upper surface: Close            to 146A. Venation, lower surface: Close to 147B. Petiole            length: About 3.1 cm. Petiole diameter: About 4 mm. Petiole            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Petiole color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with elongated            oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals            above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop acropetally on a            capitulum. Inflorescences slightly fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness). Uniform and early flowering            habit; plants exposed to two weeks of long day/short night            conditions followed by photoinductive short day/long night            conditions flower about eight weeks later.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color            and substance for about three weeks in an interior            environment.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Grown as a spray-type, about            four per lateral branch.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About            7.5 mm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 147A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.6 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Diameter of disc.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Receptacle height.—About 6 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About 8 mm.            Corolla tube length: About 5 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong.            Apex: Acute, mamillate or emarginate. Base: Fused into a            corolla tube. Margin: Entire. Orientation: Initially upright            to about 80° from vertical to eventually perpendicular to            the peduncle. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Number of ray florets per inflorescence:            About 26 arranged in about two whorls. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 6A faintly            overlain with close to 53A. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 6A to 6B underlain with closer to            53A.        -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at center of receptacle.            Length: About 7 mm. Diameter, apex: About 3 mm. Diameter,            base: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Tubular; elongated. Apex:            Five-pointed. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 150. Color: Immature: Close to 154B. Mature, apex:            Close to 9A. Mature, mid-section and base: Close to 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 26 arranged in            about two to three whorls. Length: About 9 mm. Width: About            4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Waxy, smooth.            Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:            Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: 146A to 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.1 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Angle: About 45° from            vertical. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Close to            9A. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium: Present on both            ray and disc florets. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color:            Close to 155D. Stigma color: Close to 9A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial greenhouse conditions.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named‘Yocupertino’, as illustrated and described.